Knitting machine attachment



R. J. STEERE 1,929,125

KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Oct. 3, 1933.

Filed April 2o. `1931 5 sne'e's-sheet 1 31a/vento@ P. Lf SWZ/fe Oct. 3,1933. R, J. sTEERE KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April 20. 1931 v5Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 3, 1933.

R. J. STEERE KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April 20. 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 3, 1933. R 1 STEERE l 1,929,125

KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April 20. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4gn/ventola Oct. 3, 1933. R, STEERE 1,929,125

KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April 20. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f7 131l?" f i i d -1 f i 1g ww y Eos! l i -h =1 12 22,5 1l? g :5 l 95 M af l Iy i 'Hl 'lllllll O l@ "l l 1 ZZ 5 m 210 l .Zal/ W O; a i zz Z2 'Jzi i 67Z 72 Il Z% FzzL gmnnkoc Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES lui'rialr'rIorifice KNITTIN G MACHINE ATTACHMENT Application April 20, 1931. SerialNo. 531,528

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to knitting machine attachments adapted,as a particular function, to cause the formation of longitudinal stripesin a reverse plated fabric.

A particular feature of the invention is the yarn guiding mechanism,whereby the yarn is fed for reverse plating. The guiding mechanismcomprises a pair of ngers oppositely reciprocable and oppositelyswingable during reciprocation to present the yarn in upper and lowerpositions to the needles. 'Ihe long butt needles are caused to miss thetop yarn at. intervals, which thus comes to lie behind the bottom yarn.Assuming two yarns of contrasting colors to be used, the bottom yarnbeing thus knit on the outside forms a contrasting stripe as successivecourses are knit.

By reversing the relative positions of the guide fingers and bringingthe yarn which was formerly in top position to the bottom position,reverse plating is effected and the longitudinal stripe is continued inthe contrasting color.

The invention also includes various control means for the mechanismsabove mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a practical embodiment of theinvention as applied, by way of example, to a hosiery knitting machineof well known construction. stood that the elements constituting theinvention are susceptible of considerable change and that the inventionis applicable to other types of machines than that shown in thedrawings. The invention may be utilized to advantage in Variousassociations as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of a cylinder and dial machine with theattachment of the present invention associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a perspective of a detail;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic showing, in two positions, of certainoperating mechanism appertaining to the invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the knitting machineand of the new yarn guiding mechanism, the latter in side View;

Figure 5 is a plan View of the yarn guiding mechanism in its relation tothe needles;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the yarn guiding mechanism;

Figure 'l is a section on line 7--7 of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a sectionon line 8 8 of Figure 5; Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of a portion ofthe stitch cam and needles and includes a showing of a special camappertaining to the invention; Figure 10 is a sectional view of thestitch cam and special cam;

It will be under Figure 11 is an elevation of a portion of the stitchcam and of an adjustable special cam;

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine shown in Figure1;

Figure 13 is an elevation of one face of a ratchet 60 wheel andassociated mechanism;

Figure 14 is an elevation of the other face of the ratchet wheel andother associated mechamsm;

Figure 15 is a view in elevation of certain operating trains; and

Figure 16 is a face view of a length of fabric knit in accordance withthe presentinvention.

Referring -to the drawings, the machine as shown comprises a stationaryneedle cylinder 20, a needle dial 21, and a stationary bed 22. A rotarycam ring23 has iixed thereto a vertically extending bracket 24 providedwith a horizontal top face 25, Figures 4 to 8, provided with a groove25' radial to the ring. Mounted on the bracket is a supporting frame orblock 26 which has a rib 26 engaging in the groove 25', the frame beingsecured to the bracket by means of a screw 27 passed through anelongated slot 28 of the bracket and threaded in the frame. Due to the8o provision of the slot, the frame may be adjusted radially relative tothe cylinder, as will be understood.

At its top portion, frame 26 is provided with a channel 29 parallel torib 26 and bounded laterally by walls 30 and 31. Disposed in the channelare a pair of rectangular bars 32 and 33 in longitudinally reciprocablerelation, bar 32 resting directly on top of bar 33. 0n their similarsides, the bars are provided with rectangularly transverse grooves orkerfs 32 and 33. In a bore whose axial line passes between bars 32 and33 perpendicular to their side faces is oscillatably mounted acylindrical disc 34 having eccentric pins 35 and 36 positioned at equaldistances on either side of the oscillating axis of the disc on the samediametric line and engaging respectively in grooves 32 and 33'.Displacement of the disc inwardly is prevented through contact of itsinner face with the sides of the bars while outward displacement isprevented by means of a washer 37 secured to the frame by means of ascrew 38 with a marginal portion engaging over the disc.

A lever 39 is secured to disc 34 by means of a pair of screws inhorizontally projecting relation 105 and it will be evident thatoscillation of the lever will cause, through the intermediary of thedisc and pins, opposite and equal reciprocatory movements of bars 32 and33.

A pair of guide fingers 40 and 41 are pivotally 110 connected onhorizontal axes to the ends of bars 32 and 33 in lateral recesses formedat the ends of the latter remote from grooves 32 and 33. The fingers areprovided on their lower edges with angular recesses and 41',respectively, in which are engaged abutments 42 and 43 constitutingportions of angle members 44 and 45, whose other portions are secured,through elongated slots therein, to the frame 26 by means of screws 45and 46. Springs 47 and 48 secured at one end to-the supporting frame bymeans of screws 49 and 50 rest with their other ends on the tops of therespective ngers causing the latter to bear downwardly upon the abutmentelements 42 and 43. At their ends the fingers are provided with eyesthrough which the yarn is adapted to be threaded.

It will be evident that upon opposite reciprocation of bars 32 and 33and therewith fingers 40 and 41, the fingers will be guided by theabutment means for swinging movements in opposite directions. Accordingto Figure 7, for example, with bar 33 moving to the left, finger 40 isbeing cammed upwardly by abutment 42 cooperating with the angular wallof recess 40'. Finger 41, on the other hand, is forced downwardly by itsassociated spring as the finger is moved to bring the deepest portion ofits recess 41 over the abutment. Upon reverse reciprocation of the barsopposite movement of the fingers are caused. Upward displacement of bars32 and 33 is prevented by a screw attached clip 51 which engages abovebar 32.

A post 52 extends downwardly through bed 22 xd is guided for verticalreciprocation in a guide sleeve 53. A block 54 is provided with a borein which the upper end of post 52 is engaged and held by a set screw 55threaded in a counter bore. A rod 56 retained in a vertical bore inblock 54 by means of a set screw 57 is slidable in a vertical bore inguide sleeve 53 and serves to prevent rotation of post 52 relative tothe sleeve.

A pair of cams 58 and 59 are secured to block 54 in tangential relationto a circle concentric with ring 23, these cams defining a guidewaybounded by vertically spaced horizontal wall portions 60 and 61, andhaving divergent end portions 62 and 63.

At its lower end post 52 rests on the distal end of a lever 64 which atits other end is fixed to a rock shaft 65, downward movement of thelever being limited by an adjustable stop 66, Figure 15. Also fixed onshaft 65 is a lever 67 having a head 68 adapted to cooperate with camelements in the nature of screws 69 fixed on a ratchet wheel 70. Theratchet wheel 70 is revoluble in concentric reation to a shaft 71 and isadapted to be driven by a pawl '72. Wheel 70 constitutes a patternwheel, the head 68 riding on and off of the cam elements 69, which arearranged to secure the desired effect. When the head rides on, lever 64drops and post 52 is forced downwardly by means of a tension spring 73secured at one end to head 54 and at the other end to the guide sleeve.When the head rides up on the cam elements, the post will be elevated acertain distance.

The yarn guiding mechanism, which travels in an orbital path uponrotation of the head, and block 54 are so relatively positioned that thetail of lever 39 will strike one or the other of cam faces 62 and 63 sothat the lever will be swung in one direction or the other to passbetween the parallel walls 60 and 61. As shown at the right of Figure 3,the lever is in its upper position and block 54 has been lowered tobring cam surface 62 into the path of the lever. As shown at the left ofFigure 3, block 54 has been elevated to bring cam surface 63 into thepath of the lever so that the latter will be returned to its upperposition. Ii.' desired, the position of block 54 may be changed duringeach rotation of the head, although ordinarily a' number of courses willbe knit in each position. It will be understood that if block 54 is notmoved, the lever will continue to pass between walls 60 and 61, withoutbeing affected, during the knitting of as many courses as desired and asdetermined by the disposition of the cam elements 69 on wheel 70.

Referring particularly to Figures 4, 8, and 9, reference numeral 74,Figure 9, designates the usual stitch cam. Somewhat in advance of thecam surface 74', I position a special cam 75 having a face 75substantially parallel to face 74' for engaging the butts of the longbutt needles 76. The short butt needles 76 pass the special cam and areengaged by cam face 74' in the usual manner. The special cam 75 is sopositioned relative to the yarn guiding mechanism that the long buttneedles will be caused to miss the top yarn A but will engage the bottomyarn B. At this point, therefore, the top yarn A which has been knit onthe outside will be brought to the inside since it falls behind the yarnB as indicated in Figure 9. Upon reversal in position of yarns A and Bthrough reversal of the positions of the guide fingers, yarn B will beknit to the outside except when the long butt needles come into play,whereupon it will fall to the inside.

A typical design is shown in Figure 16, it being assumed that yarn A iswhite and yarn B black. It is desirable that the special cam 75 bemovable out of the path of the long needle butts in order that a numberof courses of plain rib knitting may be formed between adjacentstockings or, in other words, that the stripe be eliminated for acertain distance as at X, Figure 16, the loose course being indicated atY. For this purpose, I may mount cam 75 on a block 77 which isvertically reciprocable to move the cam from the position shown inFigure 11 to a position in which its oblique edge is brought into theplane of the oblique edge of the stitch cam. Block 77 is guided in achannel 77 formed in the cam ring 23. A lever 79 is pivoted intermediateits ends to a post 80 fixed to the top of the cam ring, one of the leverends being bifurcated and engaging a pin 81 on block 77 and the otherlever end resting in a notch at the top of a slide bar 82 guided forvertical reciprocation in a bracket 83 fixed to the cam ring. Thelowerend of slide bar 82 rests on an outwardly and radially springpressed detent 84 1 set in the cam ring.

With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, the special cam 75 isin the positon shown in Figure 11. Upon pushing detent 84 inwardly ofthe cam ring to release the lower end of slide bar 82, lever 79 is swungby means of tension 140 spring 85 to elevate the special cam and lowerbar 82 to rest on a bottom projection 84 of the detent.

A block 86, Figure 2, is fixed on the upper end of a post a7 s11dab1everticauy in bed 22, the 145 abut the end 84 of detent 84 to move thedetent inwardly thus releasing bar 82 for the purpose already mentioned.The block remaining in its lower position, the cam projection 88 ispassed beneath bar 82 so that the special cam is not affected. Uponelevating the block, however, the lower end of slide bar` 82 engages theoblique face of cam projection 88 and rides up thereon to restore theparts to the position shown in Figure 1, the cam projection beingwithout further effect until block 86 is again lowered. The means foreffecting movements of cam 88 and consequent adjustment of block 86 willnow be described.

Mounted adjacent and inwardly of pattern wheel 70 and coaxiallytherewith is a similar and independently rotatable ratchet wheel 89,Figures 12 to 14. The outside surface of wheel 89 is provided withseries of threaded bores 90 adapted to receive screws constituting camsfor cooperation with a lever 90', Figure 1, connected through a shaft 91with an arm 91', Figure 12,

.for raising and lowering the latter, whereby the dial needles arecontrolled. On its other side, wheel 89, Figure 14, is provided withconcentric series of threaded bores 92 and 93 for the reception ofscrews constituting cams for cooperation with levers 94 and 95 which aremounted for oscillation in different vertical planes as may be seen fromFigure 12, wherein it will be noted that the screws 96 in the holes 92project a greater distance from the wheel face than the screws 97 in theholes 93.

Lever 94 is fixed to a shaft 98 which passes through the upright framemember 99 and has secured thereto a lever 100 which engages under a pin101 on cam 78, Figure 15. A tension spring 102, engaging cam 78, tendsto rotate the cam in a counter-clockwise direction, this tendency beingresisted through the engagement of pin 101 with lever 100 whose movementis prevented through engagement of lever 94 with screws 96. When thewheel 89 is in the position shown in Figure 14, the lower end of post 87is on the cam rise and block 86 is in its upper position. When, throughrotation of wheel 89, lever 94 passes off of screws 97, lever 100 ispermitted to fall a distance determined through abutment of lever 94with a stop pin 103, Figure 12. Under these circumstances cam 78 isoscillated to bring its depression under the end of post 87, so thatblock 86 is permitted to fall to its lower position. Any suitable meansmay be provided for preventing rotation of post 87 and consequentmispositioning of block 86. A member 86', which presents a verticalguide channel for the block, is shown in Figure 1.

When, through further rotation of wheel 89, lever 94 is again cammedupwardly, the parts are restored to the relation shown in Figure 15.

A slide frame 104, Figure 1, has a vertical pin 105 engaged by a lever106, which is oscillated back and forth from the ring vgear of themachine once for each revolution of the cam ring. A shaft 107 fixed toand projecting in rectangular relation from slide frame 104, carries thepawl 72 already mentioned and also a pawl 108 for cooperation with wheel89, Figure 12. Each reciprocation of slide frame 104 serves to advanceone or the other, or both, of the wheels the distanceof one ratchettooth.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, it will be seen that a tooth guard 109is secured to wheel 89 so that at a certain point pawl 108 will ride onthe guard without effecting rotation of the wheel. Inwardly of the guardand on that side of the wheel adjacent wheel 70 is fixed a pin 110extending parallel to the wheel axis.

The length of each unit of work is determined by the length of a chain111 which engages a sprocket wheel 112 xed to shaft 71, the chaincarrying a tripper 113, Figure 1. Shaft 71 extends through frame member99 and has fixed thereto a pinion 114 which is in engagement with a spurgear 115 fixed to a shaft 116 which carries the burr wheel (not shown).

A rock shaft 117 journaled in and projecting from frame member 99 hasfreely pivoted to its outer end an arm 118 which at its opposite end isprovided on its lower edge with a recess 118', Figure 1. A bell cranklever 119 pivoted on shaft 91, which is journaled in frame member 99 inperpendicular relation thereto, has an upwardly extending arm supportinga pin 121 which is parallel to the shaft and which in the position ofparts shown in Figure 1, is engaged in the recess 118'. The inner end ofpin 121 is slidable in an arcuate slot of a bracket 122, Figure 12. Thebell crank lever lies in the plane of chain 111 and the extremity of itsother arm is provided with a nose 123 engageable by tripper 113. Afinger 124 rigidly secured to arm 118 depends therefrom to lieimmediately in advance of nose 123 and is adapted to be engaged bytripper 113 to lift arm 118.

` Lever is rigidly secured to shaft 117, the shaft having rockablethereon the hub 125 of a lever 126 which has a downwardly expandedportion 126 at its other end resting, as shown in Figure 1, on pin 121.Pivoted to arm 126 is a downwardly extending finger 127 urged in acounter-clockwise direction, by means of a spring 128, into abutmentwith a pin 129 on arm 126. On its side adjacent wheel 89, wheel 70carries a plurality of pins 130 which have a path concentric with andgreater than the path of pin 110 on wheel 89. In the position of partsshown in Figure 1, the lower end of finger 127 is above the path of pin110 and may oscillate freely when struck by pins 130.

Secured to shaft 117 beyond hub 125 is a hub 120 131 which supports alever 132 extending beneath a pin 72 carried by pawl 72. Spring 128 maybe conveniently anchored on sleeve 131.

When knitting the leg of the stocking, wheel 89 is in the position shownin Figures 13 and 14, pawl 108 riding on guard 109, the pattern wheel 70is being advanced by pawl 72, and the special cam is in its lowerposition for cooperation with long needle butts. Block 86 is in itsupper position wherein its cam projection 88 passes without effectbeneath the lower end of slide bar 82. When, now, tripper 113 strikesfinger 124, arm 118 is lifted to free pin 121 from recess 118. Thetripper strikes the nose 123 of the bell crank lever, rocking the latterto move pin 121 135 beyond the downwardly expanded portion 126 of arm126 and permitting the arm to drop, thereby bringing the lower end offinger 127 in front of pin 110 of Wheel 89. Upon continued revolution ofwheel 70, one of the pins 130 strikes 140 the lower end of finger 127 onthe opposite side from pin 110 swinging the lever and initiatingmovement of wheel 89. Hereupon, pawl 108 is brought into operativerelation to the ratchet teeth and continues the drive of wheel 89. As145 the rotation of wheel 89 continues, levers 94 and 95 pass off ofscrews 96 and 97. The consequent oscillation of shaft 98 permits theoscillation of cam 78 in the manner above described so that block 86takes up its lower position and the 150 special cam is renderedinoperative. Lever 95 is weighted so that it falls immediately uponpassing from screws 97, rocking shaft 117 and thereby causing lever 132to lift pawl 'I2 out ofoperative relation with wheel 'l0 whoserotation'is thus interrupted. When wheel 89 again reaches the positionof Figures 13 and 14, it will be readily understood that pawl 72 hasbeen released for operation and the special cam lowered to operativeposition through the intermediary of levers 94 .and 95 which again reston their respective cam screws.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it willbe understood that I do not limit myself to the structure shown anddescribed, many changes being possible without departure from the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:-

1. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a rotary cam ring, yarnguide mechanism rotatable with said ring and comprising a pair ofrelatively movable guide fingers and a horizontally extending leveroscillatable in a vertical plane to move said ngers, lever operatingmechanism comprising means dening a guideway with vertically spacedparallel walls divergent at one end and positioned in the path 'of thelever, and means to reciprocate said last named means vertically wherebythe divergent Wall ends are alternately positioned to engage and movethe lever to pass it through the guideway.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein the guideway defining meansare mounted on a. vertically reciprocable post.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein the guideway dening means aremounted on a vertically reciprocable post, and the reciprocating meansincludes a pattern wheel provided with cam means and a lever engagingsaid cam means.

4. Yarn guide mechanism for knitting machines, said mechanism comprisinga supporting frame, a pair of pivotal guide fingers supported inconnection with the frame, said fingers being oppositely andsimultaneously reciprocable relative to each other and to the frame withtheir pivotal axes following parallel rectilinear paths, and means foroppositely swinging said fingers during their reciproeation.

5. Yarn guide mechanism for knitting machines, said mechanism comprisinga supporting frame, a pair of parallel bars supported for longitudinalreciprocation in said frame, guide fingers pivoted to said bars formovement therewith, means for oppositely and simultaneouslyreciprocating said bars, and means for oppositely swinging the fingersduring the reciprocaton of the bars.

6. Yarn guide mechanism for knitting machines, said mechanism comprisinga supporting frame, a pair of parallel bars supported for longitudinalreciprocation, said bars being provided with transverse grooves onsimilar sides, a member oscillatable about an axial line extendingbetween the bars and provided with eccentric pins respectively engagedin said grooves. a lever in connection with said oscillable member andoperable to oscillate said member whereby the bars are oppositelyreciprocated, and guide fingers connected to said bars for movementtherewith.

'1. Yarn guide mechanism for knitting machines, said mechanismcomprising a supporting frame, a pair of horizontally extending pivotalguide fingers supported in connection with said frame, said fingersbeing oppositely and simultaneously reciproeable relative to each otherand to the frame with their pivotal axes following parallel rectilinearpaths, each finger being provided with an angular recess on its loweredge and abutment means engaged in said recesses and guiding saidiingers for opposite swinging movements during their reciproeation.

8. Yarn guide mechanism for knitting machines, said mechanism comprisinga supporting frame, a pair of pivotal guide fingers supported inconnection with the frame, means operable to bodily move the guidefingers oppositely and simultaneously, and means for oppositely swingingsaid ngers about their pivotal axes during their bodily movement.

9. Yarn guide mechanism for knitting machines, said mechanism comprisinga supporting frame, a pair of pivotal guide fingers supported inconnection with the frame, means operable to bodily move the guidefingers oppositely and simultaneously, and cam means guiding saidiingers for opposite swinging movements about their pivotal axes duringtheir bodily movement.

RAYMOND J. S'I'EERE.

